The 373 supporters from 13 clubs signed up for the Football Fans in Training programme, which helped them to lose weight, get more exercise and improve their diet.

St Johnstone fan Paul Leslie is one of the programme's success stories

FOOTBALL fans shed an amazing 291 stone by not eating all the pies … and taking part in training sessions at SPFL clubs.

The 373 supporters from 13 clubs signed up for the Football Fans in Training programme, which helped them to lose weight, get more exercise and improve their diet.

St Johnstone finished top of the league after their fans lost an average of 1st 4lb, or eight per cent of their body weight.

One of their success stories is Paul Leslie, 67, who went from 15st to 13st after regular training sessions at McDiarmid Park.

The retired social worker from Perth said: “About four years ago, I was diagnosed with a condition called polymyalgia, which is similar to arthritis. I could hardly walk because of it and I had been on quite high doses of steroids, which led to me putting on a lot of weight.

“When I retired a couple of years ago, I decided it was time to start looking after my health.

“I was at a football match and they were looking for candidates for the programme, so I went along.”

More than 90 per cent of those who signed up had a body mass index of more than 30, meaning they were clinically obese.

But thanks to the training programme, which also included advice on nutrition, they lost an average of 12lb and nearly 3in off their waistline over the 12 months.

Father of two Paul said: “We began with some gentle exercises and then we started playing football, which I hadn’t done in about 25 years.

“We also did work in the gym. But if you weren’t able to do some of the exercises, they were modified to make them easier.

“No one was any better than anybody else, and that was the difference compared with going to a gym, where everyone’s wearing lycra and you might not feel up to it.

“There were one or two who fell by the wayside, but for the most part we stuck together and the camaraderie was good.”

Hibs fan Derek Spence, 43, who lost 2st 5lb after tipping the scales at more than 21st, said: “I had tried to improve my fitness before and my motivation had let me down – but doing the programme at Hibs gave me a lot more confidence to continue with it.

“I’ve done an 18-lap run around the pitch at Easter Road for charity and I now play 90 minutes of football and five-a-side.”

The programme, which has been running for three years, was supported by the SPFL Trust.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “This is a powerful endorsement of the positive force Scottish football can be off the pitch, helping to make a significant and hugely positive contribution to the lives of many.”

The programme has also been hailed a major success by researchers at the University of Glasgow.

Professor Kate Hunt said: “The football club is a great setting for weight management and other health initiatives for men. Participants loved having the opportunity to spend time at the club.